THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 | CHICAGO SUN-TIMES | 13

Judge to hear Koschman special prosecutor request in March

BY CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK
Staff Reporters

Arguments over whether a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate a 2004 homicide case involving a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley and current White House Chief of Staff William Daley were set Wednesday for March 6 by a Cook County judge. Judge Michael Toomin said he will hear oral arguments on that date from lawyers for the family of David Koschman and from Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarezs office, which appears to be preparing to fight the push for a special prosecutor to investigate why Richard J. R.J. Vanecko wasnt charged in the 21-year-old Mount Prospect mans death. Koschmans mother, Nanci Koschman, filed court papers Dec. 14 along with her sister and brother-in-law asking for a special prosecutor to be appointed from outside Alvarezs office to determine whether criminal charges should be filed in the wake of a series of reports in the Chicago SunTimes that revealed that: Vanecko ran from the scene of the drunken April 25, 2004, confrontation that left Koschman mortally injured; friends who were with Vanecko that night lied to police investigating the case; other witnesses said their version of what happened was misreprented in police reports; and the police and prosecutors lost files on the case. The Koschman familys lawyers maintained in their court filing that criminal charges would have been

hensive response. That means theyre going to fight it tooth-and-nail, said G. Flint Taylor, one of the Koschman familys lawyers. Alvarez spokeswoman Sally Daly responded later Wednesday, saying, We will

not react to Mr. Taylors speculation on the case but will abide by the legal process and make our statements directly to the court. The Koschman family lawyers will then have until Feb. 21 to provide a written response to Alvarezs filing.

Free Vehicle Pickup ANYWHERE We accept ALL vehicles - running or not We also accept Boats and RVs Tax deductible

DONATE YOUR CAR

Share the power of a wish

WheelsForWishes.org

1-877-415-WISH (9474)

PUBLIC AUCTION
David Koschman
filed against Vanecko if not for his Daley family connection. They also said someone from outside the states attorneys office is needed to review the case because of questions about how the investigation was handled by the Chicago Police Department and prosecutors including Assistant States Attorney Darren OBrien, who still works for the states attorneys office. Early last year, seven years after Koschman was punched in the face by Vanecko on Division Street near Dearborn Street, the police continued to list the case as an open and unsolved homicide. Detectives re-examined the case and ended up closing it without seeking criminal charges but for the first time identified Vanecko who was 29 in 2004 as having thrown the punch that led to Koschmans death. Toomin gave Alvarezs staff until Jan. 31 to respond in writing to the Koschman familys petition for a special prosecutor. Jack Blakey, Alvarezs chief of special prosecutions, told the judge that the states attorneys office expects to file a compre-

CONFISCATED ASSETS FOR VIOLATION OF LAWS

This seized and confiscated merchandise obtained from govt held auctions will be offered at this one day auction with other fine jewelry items which constitutes the majority of items.

ALL JEWELRY IS G.I.A., E.G.L. OR A.I.G. CERTIFIED

Auctioneers Note LOT 2: 19.17ct Diamond Bracelet LOT 11: 4.02ct Diamond Solitaire LOT 77: 7.57ct Tanzanite Ring LOT 125: 26.40ct Oval Shaped Sapphire LOT 214: 4.01ct Alexandrite Ring LOT 391: 6.78ct Diamond Earrings

OVER 400 ITEMS

DIAMOND SOLITAIRES ROLEX WATCHES

ALL MUST GO
PEARLS DIAMOND STUD EARRINGS EMERALDS TANZANITES SAPPHIRES RUBIES LOUIS VUITTON DIAMOND BRACELETS CHANEL

ALL HANDBAGS GUARANTEED GENUINE

PRADA BALENCIAGA

GUCCI

MARC JACOBS

Auction 1:00 PM Preview 12:00 Noon

Sunday, January 8th

933 Skokie Blvd Northbrook, IL 60062
I-94 exit Dundee West. Turn left on Skokie Blvd. I-294 exit Willow. Turn right to Sunset Ridge, turn left.

Renaissance North Shore Hotel

subscribe at suntimes.com

Terms: Cash, All Major Credit Cards. Auction conducted by Flawless, Inc. For more info call 1-818-348-2812. Auction not affiliated with any government agencies.